SUMMER’S FUN CAN’T BE SPOILED
SUMMERGHAND raised a glass to absent friends with a photo-finish victory in the Unibet Stewards’ Cup.
The finale of Glorious Goodwood’s five-day fixture had been due to welcome a crowd of 5,000 as part of the pilot scheme to return attendances to top-level sport.
But yesterday’s card had to take place behind closed doors after Prime
Minister Boris Johnson postponed on Friday measures to bring spectators back, until August 15 at the earliest.
“Winning these big races – it’s the ‘Glorious’ meeting – and nobody here to cheer you in? It doesn’t seem right,” said winning jockey Danny Tudhope, after his 22/1 mount, trained in North Yorkshire by David O’Meara, won by a head over Kimifive, with 3/1 favourite Nahaarr in ninth place.
“When you’ve had a winner and there’s no one there to cheer you, that’s the only negative part,” he added.
“It’s a shame, but we’re lucky to be racing and we’re used to this now.”
Six-year-old Summerghand, wearing cheekpieces for the first time, is a regular in the big six-furlong sprint handicaps and gained compensation for a nose eclipse by Hey Jonesy in the
Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.
“He’s just a little bit quirky – when he hits the front he would probably duck and dive a bit, but he’s a very talented horse,” added the Scottish jockey.
Downing Street’s call to delay the crowds came too late for the Goodwood management, whose work to accommodate the track’s members and guests was already done.
At least the users of Chichester’s food banks were in for a pleasant surprise, with donations of Goodwood-branded lobster offering an interesting addition to the line-up.
And the template for welcoming fans within a Covid-19-safe environment will still be of use when Whitehall does give the green light, claimed Goodwood managing director Adam Waterworth.
“Whether it’s us or somebody else, we’re more than happy to share the learning,” Waterworth said.
“As soon as anyone puts their hand up – the earlier the better – hopefully somebody benefits from the work we’ve done, because it’s in all our interests to get crowds back as quickly as possible.”
Waterworth estimated Friday’s decision cost his employers “a six-figure sum”, but added: “The money hasn’t been in vain because we’ve proven we can do it.”